Best of 2023
Per tradition, we asked our friends and family to pick their favourite release of the year. This year, we also invited all our followers to vote for their favourite brand. Without further ado, here are the results and the best releases of 2023:
1. ASICS, 53 votes 🥇
2. New Balance, 51 votes 🥈
3. Saucony, 24 votes 🥉
4. Nike, 23 votes
5. Mizuno, 17 votes
6. Dizygotic, 14 votes
7. adidas, 9 votes
8. Salomon, 6 votes
9. Diadora, Hoka, KangaROOS, 4 votes
12. Karhu, 2 votes
n. 211
These must goes to Aime Leon Dore x New Balance 1906 - M1906RL1, which is the most instantly recognizable colorway of this 1906 model, especially the green and cream colour combo.
My favorite pair of 2023 came out on Air Max Day. Of course We’re talking about the Air Max 86 OG Red. For the first time ever i’ve bought four pairs of the same release, which should indicate how much of a fan i am.
ASICS x Ronnie Fieg Gel Lyte III “By invitation only”.
In a time a tech runners and Air Max 1 over-saturation Ronnie Fieg and ASICS brought back the original GLIII shape and to top it off perfectly executed this shoe with a fantastic colourway and beautiful build quality.
For me, by far the best release is Carhartt WIP x New Balance 990v6, they use Hamilton brown as their signature brand color and also the military Green N Logo providing a remarkable contrast which I think makes this pair one of the hottest released this year in my opinion.
My favorite release of 2023 is the New Balance Teddy Santis Made In USA 990v6 "Magenta/Limestone/Purple".
The shoe is striking, but clean at the same time. The color combo is awesome and I love the way it looks on the V6 silhouette. The subtle contrast between the magenta and purple works well on top of the limestone base.
It's a head-turning shoe that was readily available to all.
My favorite release of 2023 has to be the Asics x bodega gel nyc’s “after hours”
It wasn’t a sparkling 2023 for sneakers, but nevertheless some interesting pairs popped up throughout the year.
My favorite release was the Ronnie Fieg x Asics GL III “Blush”. It came unexpected and it was anticipated by early posts of some collectors who were gifted a pair. There wasn’t any storytelling behind the shoes, that was special mainly for one reason: it was “by invitation only”. To buy it, you needed to receive the access directly on the app or a card in store after a purchase of more than 150 $.
Other than that, the shoes were really well executed. Using his remastered shape, Ronnie Fieg chose a nice pastel color blocking in a pinkish hue, with some good maroon accents, on a plush suede. Overall an underestimated pair that adds another notch to one of the best partnerships on the sneaker scene.
How cool is it that Nike is brought back the Big Bubble? I personally never saw it coming. The old technology behind the sneaker is super fascinating. How they did this in '86 is incredible to think about. Hands down Nike killed it with this release! How they had Tinker on the SNKRS app before the release was just the icing on the cake. Without a doubt the Air Max 1 Big Bubble OG Red is my Sneaker Of The Year 2023!
My favorite release of 2023 is the Ronnie Fieg x Clarks x Adidas Samba. The concept immediately grabbed me. The execution made me wish I doubled up.
I grew up on Adidas soccer (football) footwear, so the Samba’s classic styling is near and dear to my nostalgic heart. Additionally, I currently own about a dozen pairs of Clarks, including some of Ronnie Fieg’s 8th Street collection. So when I first read about the release, I knew I’d be entering the raffle.
No luck there. But as good fortune (and smart business) would have it, Ronnie & Co. decided that, due to the overwhelming interest, they would do a preorder and everyone who wanted a pair could get one.
My only question when filling out the preorder was which colorway to go with. Frankly, spending my work week in a business casual environment, I figured that the tan would likely be a great addition to the Clarks work rotation. I do not regret the decision. My only regret is that I didn’t have the foresight to double up and get the white pair as well when the preorders were open.
I love this shoe. The materials are exceptional. From the signature crepe sole to the supple suede upper, this shoe is a delight to hold in hand. Underfoot, the shoe is comfortable and supportive. There is no lack of detail as well. Each of the three partners’ branding is emblazoned on the tongue and the trademark fobs/tags that hang off the laces.
Ronnie was up to a tall task in making this behemoth, tripartite collaboration work. He did, and the result was well worth the wait.
Sean Wotherspoon x adidas
Gazelle “Corduroy”
Say what you want about Sean, this was actually a really good year for him.
The Orketro to start the year was stellar.
Bringing a boring model to life!
Then, the Gazelle’s 😍.
The Gazelle is traditionally a subtle shoe and he was able to bring some major excitement to the silhouette via the pattern and colours.
What makes this release so great to me, is that every pair is unique, due to the pattern being different for each shoe.
Top it off with a translucent gum sole, it makes this pair so special.
I get by far the most compliments from non-sneaker community people when I wear this shoe and I think that says a lot.
Personally I really love the Size? 990v3.
It's pretty underrated for some folks but I just love how it is. The colorblocking looks so good on the 990v3, and the visuals for this campaign is awesome. It's a pity that Size? Didn't get a customed shoebox or even a customed insole, else it would be perfect.
Air Max 1 think tank.
The shape, material and colorway are simply on point here. As is usually the case, the Japan exclusive is simply perfect again!
NB 998 x Cncpts.
A pair that probably few people will consider as SOTY, but has everything to be named as best release of 2023. Excellent quality, comfy, striking colorway. A great return after 10 years!
My favourite release this year has to be the Ronnie Fieg x Asics Gel Lyte III 'invitation only' Blush colourway. The materials and colourway are fantastic and the fact you had to be selected by Kith makes them that little bit more special. The 07 remastered shape is also something that has been amazing to see this year with the release of the super yellow and orange pairs that came first.
new balance mt580vb2
not too many collabs or releases caught my attention this year. i tend to gravitate towards GRs anyway, but this was my favorite shoe of 2023. it's a perfect colorway, and also features my favorite colors (grey, purple, and blue). the purple Rollbar and tongue logo pop nicely and the creamy midsole just completes it. the colorblocking also ticks off some boxes for me that make a perfect, and well-balanced shoe; the meshes are matching in color (navy blue) and the toe piece isn't a contrasted color. loud, but not too loud... just right. also, very wearable. the only things i would change to improve this shoe is perhaps a gumsole or making the N logo contrast a little more by making it a different color. underrated model for both 2023 and 2022. looking forward to more mt580s in 2024.
My favourite release of 2023 is the Gel Lyte III x Ronnie Fieg By invitation only „Plum“.
It’s the first proper colorway since a couple of years by him and in my opinion a future classic. In the past there were really great pairs aswell but this one stood out. Really nice materials mixed with classic palette colors but still somehow different. Kith did a great job on this pair.
Mizuno Contender x Ceizer ”Garde La Pêche”🍑. A beautiful cw and loved the peach theme. Was also fun because it was the one sneaker that most of us M.A.M.I.S.
New balance x Ronnie Fieg x frank Lloyd wright 998 KT1. The color black blocking is amazing and it is my favorite sneaker model of all time.
Ronnie Fieg x asics GEL-LYTEⅢ 07 Remastered ''Blush''
Action Bronson x NB 990v6 “Lapis Lazuli”
990v6 is a great addition to the 990 lineup, with both great looks and confort. Amazing colorway that matches so many different colours, that strangely work so well together. Such a different and original design. Also, not a ridiculously hyped collab, but enough hype to make them feel special.
It's hard to pick just one release this year, because so many good sneakers released in 2023. But if I had to pick just one, it's got to be the Sneep x WOMFT? Pro Thunder "Silberpfeil". This might be an odd choice for many, because there isn't much hype about a brand like Sneep. But I for one dig the underdogs and Atelier Kamp (who is one of the masterminds behind WOMFT?) is the very definition of an underdog. The Austrian rapper and graphic designer constantly puts out really thought out designs for a number of brands (Kangaroos, Hummel, Sonra, Sneep) now. This pair of Pro Thunders fits right into his wheelhouse of well-crafted and uniquely designed footwork. The overall look of the shoe is based on the legendary subway cars from Vienna (hence the name "Silberpfeil") and has too many details on it to count. The "Silberpfeil" is limited to 80 pairs worldwide and I was lucky enough to get the first pair at the limited release event. So I will always connect that to the shoe and therefore the Sneep x WOMFT? Pro Thunder "Silberpfeil" is my most favourite release of 2023.
Nike SB x Air Jordan 4 “Pine Green”. It’s a beautiful mash up of SB tech and Jordan Brand heritage, resulting in a more comfortable version of the AJ4 with an improved shape, great materials and colourway.
2023 was a great year in sneakers because several brands left their mark and finally got the recognition they deserve. With that being said if I had to choose a SOTY, I would choose the Jordan 4 X Nike SB “Pine Green”. Anytime you put Jordan Brand and Nike SB together expectations will be through the roof, and IMO, these lived up to the hype. They spent years reconstructing one of the most iconic silhouettes ever, re-tooling it to work for skateboarding. The comfort, shape, materials, colorblocking with that classic combo of white, green and gum outsole came out ridiculously good. I think that when we look back at 2023 in a few years, this will be the pair we remember.
My favorite release of 2023 (and there was a close second for me) was the Doernbecher Vomero 5. Jaren did a tremendous job capturing the wonder and creativity of a child on a sneaker. Incorporating his favorite things, including patches with all of his siblings names. The glow in the dark pieces and wide variety of laces make this such an amazing pair for me. I absolutely love them!!!
It was difficult making a best of the best list this year, but for me there was no argument in choosing my number 1 pick.
The sneaker of the year for me is the New balance 990v6 baklava Lapis Lazuli. Not only is it a brand model it is a collab done to perfection by Action Broson. The mix of 6 different blues mix well with the sole color and in harmony. It immediately reminded me of the hanon 1500 but I doubt that was the inspiration. Overall all this sneaker marks all the checks of my SOTY. Congrats NB as they did it again.
I will pick the 990v6 of new balance the fors iteration of action bronson.
Because of the striking colors boasted l the sneakers and also the fact was a new output by New balance. It was a fair risk taking choice. I couldn't get my hands on them.
My favourite release of the year is ASICS GL3 x KITH “By invitation Only”. Not only that it’s one of the most iconic silhouette from ASICS but also the “remastered” shape, finishing off with the premium material as well as the warm and luxury colour tone.
Other than that, it was definitely the year for AF1 with many variations of the triple whites. I love AF1 for it’s timelessness and it’s also my first pair of sneakers that I ever bought when I was still in school. A must-have for ALL!